Events and RSVP

SEPAC NOVEMBER COFFEE CHAT

Join us 11/29 at the SEPAC coffee for casual conversation. 9am@Saltbox Kitchen.

SEPAC Summer Camp Info Night

Come learn from camp directors how their camp can support your child.

DECEMBER 1, 6-7:30

@THE CONCORD MAIN LIBRARY – 129 MAIN ST

CAMPS ATTENDING:

-CONCORD REC

-THE UMBRELLA ARTS CAMP

-GOOD PICKIN’ FARM

-DRUMLIN FARM

-FUSE

-TIMBERNOOK

-ASPIRE

SEPAC DECEMBER COFFEE CHAT

Join us 12/18 at the SEPAC coffee for casual conversation. 9am@Saltbox Kitchen.

Office Hours

Office hours are held at the Concord Main Library in the cafe area every second Tuesday of the month from 11am-12:30pm. Upcoming office hours are on September 9th, October 14th, and November 11th. If those dates don’t fit your schedule please reach out directly to make an appointment.

Past Events:

Then join us 10/22 at the SEPAC coffee for conversation about the workshop.  9am@Saltbox Kitchen.

Parents as Partners

  • October 9th 5:30 pm / On Zoom: ID 92869081583
  • Please join us for a dialogue with the Concord Public Schools and Concord Carlisle Regional School District Superintendent, Dr. Laurie Hunter, Director of Student Services, Angel Charles, and her administrative team to talk about how parents and guardians can engage and “partner” with their student’s team and the administration in the new school year to support their student’s success.

Bullying: What parents need to know.

October 6 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Please join us for a workshop with the FCSN addressing what bullying is, the school’s legal obligation to prevent and address bullying, some strategies and tools for dealing with bullying, and how to address bullying in the IEP.  Registration: https://fcsn.org/event/bullying-10-6-25/

SEPAC Coffee

SEPAC Welcome Back Coffee – September 19th, 9:00am @Rideout Park (61 Lawsbrook Rd Concord MA)

Please join us for a casual conversation. Get to know other parents and caregivers with students who also have learning differences. SEPAC board members will also be available to answer questions and chat.

Age Specific Playdate

SEPAC Playdate – September 20th @Rideout Park (61 Lawsbrook Rd Concord MA). Join us for age specific playdates to get to know other parents and caregivers and make new connections. Rain Date Sept 27th.

  • K and 1st: 10-11am
  • 2nd and 3rd: 11am-12pm
  • 4th and 5th: 12-1pm
  • Middle School: 1-2pm

Next SEPAC meeting

SEPAC holds monthly board meetings that are open to the public. Our first monthly Board meeting will take place on Monday, September 29, 2025 from 7:30-8:30 p.m. on Zoom. Link to be distributed in advance.

 5/19 7-9pm

Concord & Concord Carlisle SEPAC hosts: Basic Rights Evaluation & Eligibility.  Presented by Tracey Morgan Special Education Advocate

Placement Consultant.  www.abrightideaadvocates.com

Register here:

Basic Rights: Evaluation and Eligibility

Transforming Childhood: Expertise, Innovation, and Community Engagement

Literacy Liberates:

Recording:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsghP2_yjiI

Kareem Weaver an advocate for Literacy as a Civil Rights will be the keynote speaker. He will then join a dynamic panel with Milly Arbaje-Thomas, MSW CEO, METCO, Eavan Miles Mason, Ph.D. CEO, KidCenterED, Katherine Tarca, M.Ed.Director of Humanities & Literacy, MA DESE.

Growth: Harmonizing Solitude, Guidance, and Freedom

THURSDAY, JANUARY 235:30—7:30 PM Main Library 129 Main Street, Concord, MA, 01742

Join us to consider your options and ensure a balanced, enriching experience for your children during after-school hours and in the summer. Panelists will discuss various ways kids may spend time leading to growth, and then Psychologist Dr. Andrew Richlin will address the balance between isolation and socialization, family and community, goal-driven activities and open-ended play, and self-direction versus being led. 

Recorded Video of this event: https://youtu.be/xIOcVZ3nA-Y

SEPAC Meeting: Dec 19, 2024 07:30 PM
Zoom Meeting
https://concordps.zoom.us/j/94150048801

Meeting ID: 941 5004 8801

Innovative Currents: Outdoor Learning in K-8 Education (Click on image to register)

Recorded Video of this event: https://youtu.be/IIVdI6M7cW0

Transforming Childhood: Expertise, Innovation, and Community Engagement

Plate to Mind: Food and Its Effect on Mood and Brain Chemistry (Click on image to register)

Recorded Video of this event: https://youtu.be/xgSNAz5UfhI

SEPAC Coffee – Thursday January 16thth-9:15 a.m. @ Saltbox Kitchen.

Please join us for a casual conversation. Get to know other parents and caregivers with students who also have learning differences. SEPAC board members will also be available to answer questions and chat.

You can find more information on our website and on social media about other events. www.concordsepac.org

SEPAC Meeting October 30th 7:30-8:30pm

Concord Public Schools and
Concord-Carlisle Regional School District
Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC)
Wednesday, October 30, 2024 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Virtual Zoom Meeting

  • Agenda
  • Welcome (7:30-7:35)
  • SEPAC Updates
  • President/Vice President Update: Ashley Healy and Adrienne Query-Fiss (7:35-7:40)
    Office Hours
  • Events Update: Karin Hodges and Krys Streeter-Tarlow (7:40-8:05)
  • Recent Events:
    Coffee 9/27
  • Approved letter to School Committee
  • Scheduled events
  • Another fall coffee
  • Presentation on new IEP and/or Basic Rights – February
  • Transition event for rising 9th graders with Carlisle – April
  • SEPAC Appreciation Awards – May 2025
  • Membership Update: Roopam Garg and Lauren Judge (8:05-8:15)
  • Liaisons List
  • Distribution List
  • District Updates
  • School Committee Updates
  • Other matters / new business / public comment

SEPAC Presents: Parents as Partners

A dialogue with the Concord Public Schools and Concord Carlisle Regional School District Superintendent, Dr. Laurie Hunter, Director of Student Services, Angel Charles, and her administrative team to talk about how parents and guardians can engage and “partner” with their student’s team and the administration in the new school year to support their student’s success.

October 1st, 2024 at 6:00 pm / Online

SEPAC Coffee Meet & Mingle 

Friday, Sept. 27th at 9:30 a.m., Rideout Park by the pavilion

Our first coffee,  where we got to know other parents and caregivers with students who also have learning differences.  

This was a casual get together.  SEPAC board members were available to answer questions and chat.  Children not at school were welcome.  

SEPAC Board Elections Thursday June 6th, 2024 at 6pm.

  • Membership is free and open to all parents of children with disabilities in our Concord, Carlisle and Boston communities and other interested parties.
  • The mission of the Concord SEPAC is straightforward — we aim to serve as a resource to families, foster an inclusive culture in our schools & communities, and advise our districts on issues that affect the safety & education of our children. No special education background or experience required! Questions? You can reach us at concordsepac@gmail.com

7th Annual SEPAC Awards

  • Thursday, May 9th, 2024
  • 4:30 PM @ The Willard Elementary School
  • For a teacher, tutor, counselor, aide, administrator or any other school staff member who has made a difference to your child this year.  Each year, the Concord Public Schools and Concord-Carlisle Regional School District Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) invites families from Concord, Carlisle and Boston with a child on an IEP or 504 Plan to honor a special person (or persons) with a SEPAC Appreciation Award! We hold a ceremony for our award recipients. May 9th, 2024 was the last ceremony.

The New IEP

  • This was a presentation to the SEPAC highlighting the New Massachusetts IEP form. Student Services Director Angel Charles and our Special Education Coordinators provided an overview of the New IEP form and discussed what you can expect as we begin to adopt the new form next year.
  • Topic: SEPAC Presentation: The New IEP April 24, 2024 06:00 PM Zoom Meeting

Basic Rights-Understanding the IEP Process.

SEPAC Coffee in the Park

  • April 10th at 9:15
  • SEPAC members and other parents/guardians had a casual coffee and conversation meetup. We met at Rideout playground under the covered picnic tables.  61 Laws Brook Rd, Concord.  

Dr. Karin Hodges offered a free presentation to the community titled:
Opting for Growth by Embracing Stress and Emotions

  • March 21st 6-8pm Willard Elementary School Auditorium
  • 185 Powder Mill Rd-Concord

Concord & Concord-Carlisle SEPAC Board Meeting
Thursday Mar 7, 2024 ⋅ 7pm – 8pm

January 4th 7:00 pm / Online

 Summer Programs

  • We learned more about the district’s Extended School Year (ESY) programs for the summer. Plus a handful of local camps including Concord Recreation & Inclusion Camp
  • The district’s Extended School Year (ESY) programs.
    -Concord Recreation & Inclusion Camp
    -Fuse
    -Drumlin Farm
    -Peter Pan Center
    -Timbernook.

SEPAC Board Meeting

  • 12/6/23 @ 7:00 PM
  • Social-All were welcome
    Dec 1st
    6:30 pm / In–person
  • Nosh @97 Lowell Rd-Concord. In the upper bar area.
  • Parents and members of SEPAC could ask questions and share ideas.

Summer Programing and ESY Forum (click on image for recording)

  • More info here as well:
question-and-answer-guide-on-special-education-extended-school-year-programsDownload
esy24Download

Online forum

  • November 14th with our new Director of Student Services, Angel Charles, who provided an overview of the changes and answer parent questions.
  • Topic: SEPAC Forum: ESY
    Time: Nov 14, 2023 5:30 – 7pm

SEPAC Coffee In The Park

  • October 25th 9:30am
  • Rideout Park Pavilion – 61 Laws Brook Road, Concord.
  • Coffee & Chats are a great way to meet other parents and members of SEPAC. We discuss the back-to-school transition. Members and guests asked questions and shared ideas. All were welcome.

SEPAC Board Meeting


SEPAC Coffee In The Park

  • September 29th
  • 9:30 am / In–person
  • SEPAC Coffee & Chat
  • Please join us at Rideout Park Pavilion-61 Laws Brook Road, Concord.
  • Coffee & Chats are a great way to meet other parents and members of SEPAC, discuss the back-to-school transition, ask questions and share ideas. All are welcome.

Parents as Partners

  • September 19th 5:30 pm / Online
  • We hosted a dialogue with the Concord Public Schools and Concord Carlisle Regional School District Superintendent, Dr. Laurie Hunter, and the new Director of Student Services, Angel Charles, to talk about how parents and guardians can engage and “partner” with their student’s team and the administration in the new school year to support their student’s success.
  • Topic: SEPAC Welcome Event
  • Time: Sep 19, 2023 05:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

SEPAC Teacher Appreciation Awards! 

  • May 4th at 4:30 at the Willard School auditorium. 
  • In our 6th year, the SEPAC Appreciation Awards offer families the opportunity to reflect on the school year and to recognize staff members in our districts who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to support our students.

-Dr. Ross Greene recorded presentation

Parents Night out!

March 16th 6-9pm

Concord & Concord-Carlisle SEPAC met on Thursday, March 16th for a fun and festive parents night out! Catch up with old friends and make new connections at Chang An Restaurant, 10 Concord Crossing. We will be in the bar area from 6-9 p.m.–drop in anytime! Light appetizers will be provided. Adults only 21+ please.